By Reporter
The Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing has directed the Ministry of Defence and the National Treasury to furnish it with the contract, procurement and financial records relating to the multi-billion-shilling Bomas International Conference Centre (BICC) project.
The committee, chaired by Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, wants the Ministry of Defence to submit the project contract, procurement records, financing agreements, progress reports and other documents after the committee was informed that the ministry had been entrusted with procurement and contracting, while the Ministry of Tourism retained responsibility for ownership, marketing and positioning of the facility as a major international conference destination.
Appearing before the committee, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the Ministry of Tourism would assume ownership of the completed facility, but the contract was held by the Ministry of Defence.
“The contracting function had been delegated to the Ministry of Defence and we believe they will handle the documentation,” CS Miano told the committee.
The disclosure prompted senators to question the division of responsibilities between the two ministries, particularly because funding for the project is being channelled through the Tourism Fund.
Senator Kibwana said the committee required access to the contracts and procurement records, financing agreements, project budgets, financial statements, invoices, payment and expenditure records and other implementation documents.
The committee also wants the project work plan, progress reports and timelines, feasibility studies, technical reports, bills of quantities, approved designs and correspondence relating to the planning, procurement, financing and implementation of the project, including any contract variations.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua questioned why a ministry responsible for financing and eventual ownership of the project did not have custody of key contractual and procurement documents.
“It cannot be that one ministry has signed a contract with a contractor, somebody undertaking construction, and another ministry is the one that is tracking progress. I mean, that becomes funny,” Senator Wambua said.
CS Miano explained that the project was approved by Cabinet in 2023, when Bomas was under the then Ministry of Culture and Gender, before procurement and execution responsibilities were delegated to the Ministry of Defence following changes in the Government structure.
She said Bomas was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Tourism, which has since been monitoring the project’s progress.
“This project was approved by Cabinet in 2023. At that time, Bomas was under the Ministry of Culture and Gender. The procurement process was then delegated to Ministry of Defence in review of the arrangement of government. Bomas was then taken to the Ministry of Tourism, and since that time, we have been there to track the progress,” she said.
CS Miano said the Ministry of Tourism could obtain a copy of the contract from the Ministry of Defence and submit it to the committee.
However, Senator Wambua questioned why the ministry could not immediately provide the contract if it was already using it to monitor the project.
“The CS has just gone on record and said that she has a contract to guide our ministry in tracking progress. What is the difficulty in making that contract available to us?” Senator Wambua asked.
CS Miano clarified that the Ministry of Defence remained responsible for project management and technical supervision, while the Ministry of Tourism was responsible for tourism development, eventual ownership and marketing of the facility.
She said the Ministry of Tourism’s role included ensuring the project was implemented and integrating the facility into international tourism calendars.
“It’s a national flagship initiative designed to position Kenya as a premier meetings, incentives, and conferences destination, and therefore looking at even the international tourism protocols and calendars, our ministry has to have a role,” she said.
“So, it’s not the actual technical supervision that is still with the Ministry of Defence, and therefore there is no contradiction in that,” she added.
Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko said the committee should invite the Ministry of Defence, which is handling the project, to provide all the relevant documentation.
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua also questioned the Ministry of Tourism’s handling of the project’s finances, arguing that the ministry should have access to the contract since funds for the project pass through its docket.
Senator Kinyua said the delegation of procurement to the Ministry of Defence did not remove the Ministry of Tourism’s responsibility to account for the expenditure.
“It is your money. Somebody is doing your project,” Senator Kinyua said, arguing that the ministry could not effectively oversee the project without access to the contract documents.
Committee Vice Chairperson and Samburu Senator Steve Lelegwe said that since the Cabinet Secretary could not provide all the requested documents, the committee should direct its inquiry to the Ministry of Defence.
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute proposed that Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya be invited to appear before the committee and provide the contract, procurement documents, project progress reports and other relevant records.
The committee also sought clarification on the Ministry of Defence’s role after completion of the project, given that the Ministry of Tourism is expected to assume ownership and oversee the facility’s marketing.
The BICC is intended to expand Kenya’s capacity to host large international conferences and complement existing facilities, including the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
The committee was informed that the facility will have a main capacity of approximately 11,000 people, alongside additional spaces including auditoriums and ballrooms.
